GREENSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled unmarried North Carolinians in same-sex relationships must have equal domestic violence protections. 

North Carolina had been the only state in the country that withheld domestic violence protections from those in unmarried, same-sex relationships.

Noah Ambrose, a senior at UNCG and a member of the LGBTQ community, said this ruling gives him some sort of peace of mind.

"It means that I know that I have some sort of safety and security as a LGBTQ North Carolinian going into my relationships," Ambrose says.

According to Family Service of the Piedmont, 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. That compares to 35% of heterosexual women.

The same went for 26% of gay men and over 37% of bisexual men compared to 29% of heterosexual men. 

Jennifer Ruppe, the executive director of the Guilford Green Foundation says without these protections, those in unmarried, same-sex relationships are in even more danger.

"It means that if they're experiencing domestic violence, they can't go to law enforcement or the court system for help," Ruppe says.

Ruppe also says it was important North Carolina join the other states in the nation.

"North Carolina doesn't want to be the only state in the nation for discrimination. That's not who we are as North Carolinians. This is just giving us the same rights as everyone else in the state to protection," Ruppe says.

For Ambrose, it was a long time coming.

"Now our community is one step closer to realizing the full promise of equal protection under our laws, something that should be guaranteed to every American," he says.